Dropie will strengthen climate education. New programmes and modern residential facilities will be created.

The Slovak Environment Agency (SEA) is developing a project at the Dropie Educational Centre near Zemianska Olča that will expand opportunities for climate and environmental education in Slovakia. The project includes the creation of new educational programmes tailored to various target groups—ranging from teachers, future educators, and environmental education instructors to children, individuals with specific needs, and the general public. A second key component of the project involves the comprehensive renovation of the accommodation facility, which will provide high-quality infrastructure for multi-day residential educational programmes.

SEA is a long-standing leader in the field of non-formal environmental education. Dropie offers experiential and practically oriented programmes that help various groups to gain a better understanding of nature and environmental challenges. The new project will build upon this experience, creating even better conditions for the further development of educational activities.

One of the project's key activities is the development and implementation of new climate education programmes, involving environmental education specialists from the SEA. These programmes will focus on building the knowledge and practical skills necessary to understand climate change, its consequences, and the ways to respond to it.

An important component will be innovative training for teachers, environmental education instructors, and future educators—an initiative in which the SEA will cooperate with its Norwegian partner, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The project also includes programmes in the languages ​​of national minorities, as well as educational activities tailored for individuals with specific needs.

The "PrímaKlíma – School in Nature" program will be designed for school groups. The general public will be reached through the "Klíma v suchu" (Climate under Control) educational campaign, which will explore climate-related topics and the importance of responsible water management.

Reconstruction of the old hostel will create space for experiential learning

The other important part of the project is the comprehensive reconstruction of the accommodation facility in the area of Dropie. Once reconstructed, it will provide facilities for 60 participants in residential educational programmes. This will allow children, educators, and other visitors to explore nature not only through one-day field trips but also via multi-day stays and hands-on activities conducted directly in the field.

The reconstruction will also include measures to mitigate the consequences of climate change and adapt to its impacts. Features such as a green roof, rainwater retention systems, shading elements, and photovoltaic panels will serve not only a practical purpose but also an educational one. Through the concept of a "building that teaches about climate," visitors will be able to gain firsthand insight into how these solutions work and their significance in everyday life.

"The project builds upon previous activities at the Dropie Environmental Education Centre, supported by EEA and Norway Grants, which enabled the restoration of the historic 'tanya' building (solitude) and its transformation into a modern information centre," stated Andrej Švec, Director General of the Slovak Environment Agency (SEA). It will also foster cooperation with the academic sector and universities, bridging expert knowledge with practical experience in environmental education.

By combining new educational programs, professional know-how, and high-quality facilities, Dropie will become a significant hub for the development of climate and environmental education.

The implementation of the Educational Centre Dropie project is scheduled to last 54 months. The project is supported by Norway Grants, with co-financing from the state budget of the Slovak Republic under the Green Transition programme.